legerdemain

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "legerdemain" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a noun that can be used to refer to a skillful use of the hands or an adroitness in performing tricks, especially with cards or coins. For example, "The magician performed an impressive feat of legerdemain with a series of coins and a makeshift hat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The market, once blind to this legerdemain, is growing wiser.

The Economist

Not so much for their role in the financial legerdemain at Enron, WorldCom and the like, but more for the way in which investment bankers shamefully abused privileged information and misled clients on new-share sales (initial public offerings, or IPOs) during the stockmarket bubble.

The Economist

I hope to describe some of these partnerships what works and what doesn't—in future postings.There are some objective problems which no linguistic legerdemain can dispel.

The Economist

But this week's budget "surprise" cannot be put down simply to financial legerdemain.

The Economist

The EU's stability and growth pact sets stringent budget limits, yet these require accounts free of financial legerdemain.

The Economist

The main objections to options though are not that their cost is opaque, but that they are manipulated by executive legerdemain and that there is no downside risk to owning them.

The Economist

FOLLOWING public finances is like playing one of those street games where you have to find a ball under a paper cup; the legerdemain seems designed to confuse.

The Economist

This would help cement the aero-engine partnership.Legal legerdemain is more powerful still when coupled with a genuine competitive advantage, which Rolls-Royce has in jet engines.

The Economist

The glorious pomp and ceremony of a papal election provided only a moment of relief to a global institution whose credibility has been shaken to the foundations: by the suspicion of financial legerdemain, sexual misdeeds and ugly cover-ups hanging over the church hierarchy, and the sense that infighting in the Vatican administration is becoming uncontrollable.

The Economist

THE Spanish prime minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, has the legerdemain of a magician.

The Economist

Among Northern Paiute and Washoe and probably elsewhere, a person who had received power became an apprentice to an older, practicing shaman and from that mentor learned a variety of rituals, cures, and feats of legerdemain associated with curing performances.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "legerdemain" when you want to emphasize the skill and dexterity involved in performing a trick or deception, not just the deception itself. It adds a layer of sophistication to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "legerdemain" when the act involves simple lying or fraud without any element of skillful manipulation or trickery. "Deception" or "fraud" are more appropriate in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The word "legerdemain" functions primarily as a noun. It describes the skillful use of one's hands when performing conjuring tricks or a similar kind of deception. Ludwig confirms that it can also refer to trickery or deception more generally, especially when executed with skill and finesse.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

15%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "legerdemain" is a noun referring to skillful deception or trickery, often involving manual dexterity. It is grammatically correct and versatile, suitable for describing both literal magic tricks and figurative acts of deception in areas like finance and politics. As Ludwig confirms, the word is used in neutral and sophisticated contexts across various reputable sources, predominantly in news and media, with a good frequency. While "sleight of hand" serves as a close synonym, "legerdemain" is distinct in its emphasis on the expertise behind the deceptive act. Use it wisely to add finesse to your writing!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sleight of hand

Focuses specifically on manual dexterity and skill in performing tricks.

prestidigitation

A formal term for sleight of hand, often used in the context of magic.

trickery

Emphasizes the deceptive nature of the act, rather than the skill involved.

skillful deception

Directly combines the elements of skill and deceit present in legerdemain.

deception

Highlights the act of misleading or deceiving, a key element of legerdemain.

ingenious trickery

Highlights the clever and inventive nature of the deceptive act.

conjuring trick

Specifically refers to a magic trick or illusion performed for entertainment.

crafty maneuvering

Focuses on the strategic and tactical aspect of using tricks to gain an advantage.

artful manipulation

Suggests a skillful and cunning way of influencing or controlling something.

subterfuge

Implies the use of deceitful tactics to conceal or evade something.

FAQs

How can I use "legerdemain" in a sentence?

You can use "legerdemain" to describe skillful deception or trickery, particularly when manual dexterity is involved. For example, "The politician's financial dealings involved considerable accounting legerdemain." or "The magician amazed the audience with his impressive feats of "sleight of hand" and legerdemain".

What's a simpler alternative to "legerdemain"?

If you're looking for a more common word, you could use alternatives like "sleight of hand", "trickery", or "deception", depending on the specific context.

Is "legerdemain" only used for magic tricks?

While "legerdemain" is often associated with magic tricks and manual dexterity, it can also be used more broadly to describe any form of skillful deception, such as in finance or politics, where "artful manipulation" is involved.

What is the difference between "legerdemain" and "magic"?

"Magic" generally refers to the supernatural or the illusion of supernatural powers. "Legerdemain", on the other hand, refers specifically to skillful deception or "sleight of hand", often used in performing magic tricks, but not necessarily involving supernatural claims.